Ambrose Bierce

Ambrose Bierce is one of the most acerbic and distinctive voices in American literature. A master of the short story, the aphorism and the insult, he is remembered as much for his one-liners, his misanthropy and his enigmatic death as for his published works. In addition to tracing an unusual life, Morris assesses Bierce's Civil War experiences and the writings they spawned. Morris's portrait of Bierce goes beyond chronicling his eccentricities, showing him to be a loyal friend, an heroic soldier, and an often brilliant writer.